Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Nanotechnology offers many promising solutions for technologies of the future, but also raises concerns about potential health and environmental impacts. Considering the global importance of this field, an unprecedented research initiative is currently underway to identify new properties for nanomaterials, tune functionality, and better understand nanomaterial-biomolecular interactions. Because the properties of nanomaterials are typically mediated by their outer surface that interfaces with the external environment, their surface chemistry, size, surface area, and hence the absolute concentration of nanoparticles are expected to directly impact performance. Unfortunately, available data does not consistently relate performance (etc.) to size or absolute nanoparticle concentration. As such, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions regarding performance/toxicity within a given class of nanomaterial or across different classes. Such an understanding would not only pave the way for better framing potential biological concerns (therapeutic/environmental applications) but also leads to new opportunities for synergy between nanomaterials and chemical/physical processes. To address this important scientific question, this proposal requests an instrument able to measure the size, size-distribution, and absolute concentration of nanoparticles. Eight research groups at INRS-EMT (3 co-Applicants and 5 other supportive laboratories) will exploit this tool to support a research program designed to study nanoparticle-biomolecule interactions, develop nanostructured electrodes for the next generation of high energy-density batteries (for e.g., the electric vehicle market), develop new 3D printing nano-inks for lower-cost memory devices, develop photo-catalysts that absorb all the light from the sun (for more efficient solar-driven chemical transformations), and explore new opportunities for developing theranostic devices (theranostics is considered as a fusion of diagnostics and drug therapy that enables disease progression to be monitored simultaneously to drug delivery). Each of these research areas is either already associated with a large Canadian market or its market is expected to emerge in the coming years. This program is thus timely and will contribute to the wellbeing of Canada by stimulating economic growth in areas of importance, training new personnel to integrate these areas, and bringing better technologies to Canadians.